Street lights in Jamshedpur are illuminated for 11 hours a day (on an average) throughout the year. The cost of electricity in town lighting becomes a part of the cost of making steel - difficult to bear these times of inyense competition. Why keep all the lights burning throughout the night - taht was thr question asked. The Town Electrical Department (Town Division) conducted a trial by switching-off alternate streetlights an long patches of roads in Jamshedpur, which are, in any case very well illuminated. In the trial period, after putting-on all the lights for 5.5 hours after dusk (i.e. say by 10-11 PM), alternate lights only were kept on. The switching-off was done using an electric countdown timer installed on the light ploes in the main arterie of Jamshedpur. This countdown timer was designed, developed and tested by the Town Electrical Street Light Group. |
"To Hell with Extra
Energy"
This trial was successful - there were no
complaints from the public. The illuminated level of the road was not afected at the time
when traffic was considerably less. This resulted in a reduction of energy consumption to
the tune of 25,00 units per months (September and October.2001). A vendor has since been
developed to supply the countdown timer in large numbers. The savings will continue and
increase with increasing number of pole connections in the future months.A happy two-some is now at work in Jamshedpur to reduce power consumption - the Works and the Town. Two is good company -three often becomes a crowd.